Passage

Directions for the following 3 (three) items : Read the following information and answer the three items that follow : Six students A, B, C, D, E and F appeared in several tests. Either C or F scores the highest. Whenever C scores the highest, then E scores the least. Whenever F scores the highest, B scores the least. In all the tests they got different marks; D scores higher than A, but they are close competitors; A scores higher than B; C scores higher than A.

If E is ranked third, then which one of the following is correct ?

(a) E gets more marks than C
(b) C gets more marks than E ✓ UPSC's answer
(c) A is ranked fourth
(d) D is ranked fifth

Why the answer is (b)

• Since E is ranked third, C cannot be highest because if C is highest then E is least (rank 6).

• Therefore F is highest (rank 1), and B is least (rank 6).

• The remaining ranks 2, 4 and 5 are for A, C and D, with C > A, D > A, and D immediately above A as close competitors.

• The only adjacent pair among 2, 4 and 5 that can place D immediately above A is D at 4 and A at 5.

• Hence C must take rank 2, so C is ranked above E at rank 3, making option (b) correct.

Why the other options are wrong

(a) E gets more marks than C: E is ranked third while C is forced to rank second, so E does not get more marks than C.
(c) A is ranked fourth: A is forced to rank fifth, not fourth, because D must be immediately above A.
(d) D is ranked fifth: D is forced to rank fourth, not fifth, because D must be immediately above A at rank 5.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2019, held on 2 June 2019. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.